TSL Players To Watch: James Holmes

In anticipation for the start of the 2018 Tasmanian State League season, we take a look at a player from every club that you should keep your eyes on this year. 

James Holmes

Club: Clarence

Age: 20

Clarence defender James Holmes entered the 2017 season as an unknown quantity to many, but finished as one of the Tasmanian State League’s brightest stars.

The gutsy 20-year-old made his debut in round two of last season and immediately settled into the side, so much so that he earned a starting berth in the TSL Team of the Year – despite only being a first-year TSL player.

Holmes played with dare and courage throughout his maiden TSL campaign to take out the prestigious Matthew Richardson Medal as the TSL Rookie of the Year.

Holmes has a knack for winning the football, at times putting himself in precarious positions that displayed no regard for his own safety and total commitment to his side’s cause.

Holmes uses the ball well and has the capacity to lock down a variety of opponent types while also generating attack out of the back half.

Holmes’ efforts as a defender were made all the more remarkable considering he had spent much of his previous football at the Mercury Cup level as a forward.

The multi-dimensional quality of Holmes as a player makes him an integral component of a team boasting the likes of high-profile midfielders Jackson O’Brien and Brady Jones and established defender Jason Bailey among others.

Holmes has been involved with Clarence since Auskick and his determined approach to football has seen him earmarked as a future leader of the club by coach Jeromey Webberley.

Webberley will be hoping for the same determination and fearlessness out of Holmes again as the Clarence young gun looks to take his game to another level in 2018.

Clarence’s 2018 campaign will kick off with a tantalising Eastern Shore Derby at Lauderdale Oval against the Bombers on Saturday 31 March.